Nancy Jones Book “Playin’ Possum – My Memories of George

Ten years after the death of legendary country singer George Jones, the woman credited with turning his life around felt it was time to tell their story.

“After 30 years of being married to George and 32 years together,” Nancy Jones says, “if anybody knew George Jones, I did. And I wanted to set the record straight on how sweet he was, but also what I went through, with the help of the good Lord, to get him off drugs and alcohol. And I didn’t cut any corners; I told the truth.”

“Playin’ Possum” (referring to George’s nickname) is full of behind-the-scenes stories about George’s life in music, interactions with his famous friends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, even his relationship with Tammy Wynette in the years after they divorced.

Nancy co-wrote the book with noted author Ken Abraham.

“Nancy’s a pretty good storyteller, so she made the job easy,” Abraham says. “But then doing the research and talking to people in Nashville, some of the people who worked with George on the road, and just putting all those memories together, you get to the core of the truth.”

Recognized as one of the greatest singers in country music with signature songs like “White Lightning,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and others, George Jones was also well-known for his problems with drugs and alcohol. In fact, he missed so many of his own shows, that he was dubbed "No Show Jones." 

During their early years together, when his use of drugs and alcohol was at its peak, Nancy suffered a lot of physical abuse and details some of it in her book. But everything changed in 1999 after George had his near-fatal accident outside Nashville. He found his faith, learned to pray, and became the man she says she always knew he could be.

“From 1999 to 2013, I was so blessed,” Nancy says. “I was blessed because God stopped everything. There was no more drinking, no drugs, no nothing. I had the perfect husband.”

Readers get to see the generous and funny side of George and his relationship with other country artists he knew and loved. For Nancy, going back through years of memories was challenging but worth it. 

“I think I cried every day and every night when I started writing it,” she says. 

And yet, it was especially meaningful to remember those who helped her during difficult times, like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

“I never would have made it without Johnny and Waylon helping me with George. Waylon was so precious, and Johnny never called him George; he always called him Little Pal. And anytime I picked up the phone to call either of them, they were always there for me. That's something I will always cherish.”

Nancy tells the correct version of the story people have heard for years about the wife who took George’s car keys away to keep him from going after alcohol, only to find George later driving to the liquor store on a tractor. She explains why George was reluctant to record “He Stopped Loving Her Today," thinking fans wouldn't like it. And she shares a story most people haven't heard about how George was initially supposed to be on the plane that crashed with Patsy Cline.

The book is Nancy's story, too. She touches on difficult health challenges such as her near-death COVID experience, her special friendship with Lisa Marie Presley and others, and why she decided it was time to write this book.

"With me being in the hospital in 2021, dying and coming back, it got me thinking, and I wanted to thank God for the healing power he put on me and George Jones," she says. 

And she’s hoping their story might inspire others.

“I wouldn't turn back nothing because I know God was me with through this whole thing, and George did, too. He wanted those demons gone, but it was hard to get them out of there, but we whipped ‘em all. George was a very spiritual person, and I want people to know that."